Collecting and analyzing data in a distributed sensor network

ABSTRACT

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for collecting and analyzing data in a distributed sensor network. The distributed sensor network can include a number of distributed sensor systems having data sources such as sensors, communication equipment, and/or other systems and components. The distributed sensor systems also can include lighting systems, if desired. The distributed sensor systems can collect data from the data sources and provide the data to a local or remote entity such as a data analysis engine. The data analysis engine can request data from the distributed sensor systems, receive the data, and analyze the data for various purposes.

BACKGROUND

This application relates generally to data collection and analysis. Morespecifically, the disclosure provided herein relates to collecting andanalyzing data in a distributed sensor network.

Usage of cellular and/or other mobile communications network serviceshas increased. In the case of cellular networks in particular, thegrowth in use of these networks has created some challenges with regardto capacity. In particular, overlap between cells can limit the numberof users that can be simultaneously supported by a particular cellulartower. This problem can be particularly pronounced with macro cells,which may cover a large geographic area. Because of limited availabilityof frequencies for cellular communications, and because overlap of cellsmay further limit the ability to support a growing number of users,cellular network capacity challenges can cause dropped calls and/orother communication problems for users.

Macro cells also can pose other challenges for network operators. Inparticular, many macro cells support communications in large geographicareas. For example, some towers may support a geographic area that mayhave a radius over one or more miles. The network reporting mechanismsof the cellular equipment can provide a wealth of useful information.Some of the information, however, may not be useful since networkoperators may be able to garner only a limited understanding of ageographic area with which the data is associated. Thus, data indicatinga number of users communicating via a particular macro cell may providelittle useful information for network operators as geographic areasassociated with a number of overlapping and/or adjacent cells mayencompass an extensive geographic area.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to collecting and analyzing data in adistributed sensor network. The distributed sensor network can include anumber of distributed sensor systems associated with respective coverageareas. According to various embodiments, the coverage areas of thedistributed sensor systems can be limited to a radius of about fifty toone hundred feet and may therefore be referred to as a “micro cell.” Thedistributed sensor systems can include wireless transceivers for sendingand receiving wireless communications associated with the coverage area.Thus, the distributed sensor systems can collectively provide cellularcommunications to a number of mobile devices at or near the coverageareas. Because the coverage areas associated with the distributed sensorsystems can be small, relative to macro cells and/or other cellularnetwork equipment, overlap between cells can be reduced, and as a resultthe user experience during communications can be improved.

The distributed sensor systems also can include various data sourcessuch as sensors, location components, and/or various other components.The distributed sensor systems can collect data from the data sourcesand provide the data to a local or remote analysis entity. In someembodiments, the distributed sensor systems can perform onboardprocessing of the data and transmit the processed data, or raw data, toa remote data analysis engine or other data analysis entity. In someembodiments, these and/or other operations of the distributed sensorsystems can be controlled by a controller associated with thedistributed sensor systems. The controller can include a data collectionapplication for receiving and/or responding to requests for data and/orfor generating and transmitting data to various entities. Thedistributed sensor systems also can include lighting systems such ashigh efficiency and/or eco-friendly lighting systems that can consumelimited amounts of energy. Thus, some embodiments of the concepts andtechnologies disclosed herein support various power conservationstrategies of network operators.

The distributed sensor network also can include a data analysis engine,which can be executed and/or hosted, in some embodiments, by a servercomputer. The data analysis engine can be configured to request datafrom the distributed sensor systems, to receive the data, and to analyzethe data for various purposes. In some embodiments, the data analysisengine is configured to output data analysis results as output that canbe made available to various systems, hosted by the data analysisengine, transmitted to one or more consumers, and/or used for otherpurposes. The data analysis engine also can communicate with billingand/or charging systems to bill or charge consumers of the output forthe data.

According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosedherein, a system is disclosed. The system can include a processor and amemory that stores computer-executable instructions. Execution of thecomputer-executable instructions by the processor can cause theprocessor to perform operations including determining if data foranalysis during a data analysis operation is available, obtaining thedata from a distributed sensor system if a determination is made thatthe data for analysis is not available, analyzing the data in a dataanalysis operation, and outputting results of the data analysisoperation.

In some embodiments, execution of the computer-executable instructionsby the processor can cause the processor to perform operations furtherincluding obtaining the data from the distributed sensor system bygenerating a data request specifying the data, transmitting the datarequest to the distributed sensor system, and receiving the data fromthe distributed sensor system. The distributed sensor system also caninclude a communications component that supports cellular communicationsin a coverage area associated with the distributed sensor system, alighting system that illuminates a portion of the coverage area, and twoor more data sources that generate the data.

In some embodiments, the distributed sensor system also can include atemperature sensor, a wind sensor, a pressure sensor, and an air qualitysensor. The distributed sensor system also can include an image systemthat captures images at the distributed sensor system, and a soundsystem that captures audio at the distributed sensor system. In someembodiments, the distributed sensor system also can include a spectrumsensor that detects available and used frequency spectrum at thecoverage area. The distributed sensor system also can include a radomethat covers the two or more data sources, and an environmental controldevice that heats and cools a portion of the distributed sensor system.In some embodiments, the lighting system is located within the radome.The lighting system can include a light emitting diode.

According to another aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosedherein, a method is disclosed. The method can include beginning a dataanalysis operation at a server computer executing a data analysisengine, obtaining, at the server computer, data from a distributedsensor system, analyzing, at the server computer, the data in a dataanalysis operation, and outputting, at the server computer, results ofthe data analysis operation.

In some embodiments, beginning the data analysis operation can includereceiving a request to analyze data. In some embodiments, obtaining thedata can include identifying data to be analyzed during the dataanalysis operation, generating a data request specifying the data,transmitting the data request to the distributed sensor system, andreceiving the data from the distributed sensor system. Receiving thedata from the distributed sensor system can include receiving, from thedistributed sensor system, sensor data including data collected from asensor at the distributed sensor system, and spectrum data specifyingspectrum usage at a coverage area associated with the distributed sensorsystem.

In some embodiments, the data request can specify an instance of data tobe collected at the distributed sensor system. Receiving the data fromthe distributed sensor system can include receiving, from thedistributed sensor system, spectrum data specifying spectrum usage at acoverage area associated with the distributed sensor system, andutilization data specifying available and used resources at thedistributed sensor system. In some embodiments, the data request canspecify a category of data to be collected at the distributed sensorsystem, and the category of data can include two or more instances ofdata. In some embodiments, the category of data can include weatherdata, and the two or more instances of data can include temperaturedata, pressure data, wind data, and radiation data.

According to yet another aspect, a computer storage medium is disclosed.The computer storage medium can have computer-executable instructionsstored thereon. The computer-executable instructions, when executed by aprocessor, can cause the processor to perform operations includingobtaining data from a distributed sensor system including two or moredata sources, the data including data obtained at the two or more datasources, analyzing the data during a data analysis operation, andoutputting results of the data analysis operation.

In some embodiments, the computer-executable instructions can includethat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to performoperations further including identifying data to be analyzed during thedata analysis operation, generating a data request specifying the data,transmitting the data request to the distributed sensor system, andreceiving the data from the distributed sensor system in a dataresponse. In some embodiments, receiving the data from the distributedsensor system can include receiving, from the distributed sensor system,sensor data including data collected from a sensor at the distributedsensor system, spectrum data specifying spectrum usage at a coveragearea associated with the distributed sensor system, and utilization dataspecifying available and used resources at the distributed sensorsystem. The computer-executable instructions also can includecomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to perform operations further including generatingan instruction for charging a recipient of the results of the dataanalysis operation.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a distributed sensor network,according to an illustrative embodiment of the concepts and technologiesdisclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example architecture of adistributed sensor system, according to some illustrative embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing aspects of a method for collecting dataat a distributed sensor system, according to an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing aspects of a method for obtaining andanalyzing data in a distributed sensor network, according to anotherillustrative embodiment.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a network, according to an illustrativeembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer systemconfigured to collect and analyze data in a distributed sensor network,according to some illustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is directed to collecting andanalyzing data in a distributed sensor network. The distributed sensornetwork can include a number of distributed sensor systems. Thedistributed sensor systems can include communications equipment forsupporting wireless communications within respective coverage areas.According to various embodiments, the coverage areas of the distributedsensor systems can be limited to a radius of about ten feet to about oneor two thousand feet. Thus, the distributed sensor systems can providefunctionality associated with a “micro cell” in some embodiments. Thedistributed sensor systems also can include various data sources such assensors, location components, systems, and/or various other componentssuch as location components, sound sensors, temperature sensors, windsensors, air quality sensors, video systems, imaging systems, or thelike. The distributed sensor systems can collect data from the datasources and provide the data to a local or remote analysis entity. Thedistributed sensor systems also can include lighting systems such aslight emitting diode (“LED”) lighting systems and/or other lightingsystems.

According to some embodiments, the distributed sensor systems canperform onboard processing of data collected or generated by the datasources. The distributed sensor systems can transmit the processed orraw data to a remote data analysis engine or other entity. The data canbe provided to the entity as or embedded within a data response. In someembodiments, various functions of the distributed sensor systems can becontrolled by a remote or integrated controller associated with thedistributed sensor systems. The controller can include a data collectionapplication for receiving and/or responding to requests for data and/orfor generating and transmitting data to various entities.

The distributed sensor systems can communicate with a data analysisengine. The data analysis engine can be executed and/or hosted by aserver computer that executes as a part of and/or in communication withthe distributed sensor network. The data analysis engine can beconfigured to request data from the distributed sensor systems, toreceive the data, and to analyze the data for various purposes. In someembodiments, the data analysis engine is configured to output dataanalysis results as output that can be made available to varioussystems, hosted by the data analysis engine, transmitted to one or moreconsumers, and/or used for other purposes. The data analysis engine alsocan communicate with billing and/or charging systems to bill or chargeconsumers of the output for the data.

While the subject matter described herein is presented in the generalcontext of program modules that execute in conjunction with theexecution of an operating system and application programs on a computersystem, those skilled in the art will recognize that otherimplementations may be performed in combination with other types ofprogram modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,components, data structures, and other types of structures that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the subject matterdescribed herein may be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1, aspects of a distributed sensor network 100according to various embodiments of the concepts and technologiesdisclosed herein will be described. The distributed sensor network 100shown in FIG. 1 includes a distributed sensor system 102 operating incommunication with and/or as a part of a communications network(“network”) 104. An example architecture of the distributed sensorsystem 102 is illustrated and described in more detail below withreference to FIG. 2. Briefly, the distributed sensor system 102 caninclude a controller 106; a pole, mounting surface, and/or otherhardware for locating the distributed sensor system 102 at a desiredcoverage area; one or more sensors and/or other components forcollecting data; and/or other components and/or systems.

The controller 106 of the distributed sensor system 102 can included anonboard, embedded, and/or remotely located computing system configuredto control operations of the distributed sensor system 102. According tovarious embodiments, the functionality of the controller 106 of thedistributed sensor system 102 may be provided by one or more servercomputers, desktop computers, an embedded computing device such as, forexample, a base transceiver station (“BTS”) and/or a base stationcontroller (“BSC”), combinations thereof, or the like. For purposes ofdescribing the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, thecontroller 106 of the distributed sensor system 102 is described as anembedded computer system located at the distributed sensor system 102.It should be understood that this embodiment is illustrative, and shouldnot be construed as being limiting in any way.

The controller 106 can be configured to execute an operating system 108and one or more application programs such as, for example, a datacollection application 110. The operating system 108 is a computerprogram for controlling the operation of the controller 106 and/or thedistributed sensor system 102. The data collection application 110 caninclude an executable program configured to execute on top of theoperating system 108 to provide the functionality described herein forobtaining data from a distributed sensor network 100.

According to various embodiments, the data collection application 110can be configured to control and/or communicate with one or more datasources 112 located at and/or included in the distributed sensor system102 to obtain information. The information obtained by the data sources112 can include, but is not limited to, various operating and/or ambientconditions associated with the distributed sensor system 102. Thus, thedata sources 112 can include various components of the distributedsensor system 102 such as, for example, sensors, location components,communication components, lighting systems and/or components, imagingsystems, sound systems, combinations thereof, or the like. These andother data sources 112 of the distributed sensor system 102 areillustrated and described below with reference to FIG. 2.

The data collection application 110 can receive a data request 114. Thedata request 114 can be received from various requestors. In someembodiments, the requestor associated with the data request 114 caninclude, for example, a network data analysis component, a datacustomer, a network operator, a data analysis system or personnel,combinations thereof, or the like. In some contemplated embodiments, thedata request 114 can be received from a data analysis engine 116. Thedata analysis engine 116 can be executed and/or hosted by a servercomputer 118 that operates as a part of and/or in communication with thenetwork 104. It should be understood that the data analysis engine 116also can be hosted by a virtual computing device. As such, the dataanalysis engine 116 can operate as a service on the network 104. Becausethe data request 114 can be received from additional and/or alternativesystems, applications, and/or devices, it should be understood that thisembodiment is illustrative, and should not be construed as beinglimiting in any way.

The data request 114 can specify and/or list data that is to becollected from the distributed sensor system 102. The data collectionapplication 110 can communicate with the data sources 112 to collect therequested data. The distributed sensor system 102 can perform onboardprocessing of the data collected from the data sources 112, if desired,and can package the data collected from the data sources 112. Thecollected and/or processed data can be provided by the data collectionapplication 110 to the data analysis engine 116 within a data response120. As such, the data collection application 110 can package collecteddata 122 within the data response 120 and transmit or otherwise providethe data response 120 to the requestor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data 122 included as or in the data response 120can include various types of data collected by the data sources 112 ofthe distributed sensor system 102. For example, the data 122 can includesensor data collected from various sensors such as clocks, richtometers,ultrasound detectors, infrared sensors, other sensors, combinationsthereof, or the like. The data 122 also can include ambient conditioninformation obtained from various ambient condition sensors such asthermometers, barometers, anemometers, Geiger counters, air qualitydetectors and/or exhaust detectors, or the like. As such, the data 122can include, for example, temperature data, radiation data, wind datasuch as wind speed and/or direction data, air pressure (“pressure”)data.

The data 122 also can include location data for indicating a location ofthe distributed sensor system 102 and/or for locating other entitiessuch as events by, for example, triangulation of sounds and/or devices,obtaining global positioning system (“GPS”) coordinates from devices incommunication with the distributed sensor system 102, or the like. Thedata 122 also can include light and/or lighting data such as ambientlighting conditions and/or status of one or more lighting systemsassociated with the distributed sensor system 102. The data 122 also caninclude communication frequency spectrum use and/or availability data(“spectrum data”), utilization data that can describe component and/orresource usage statistics associated with the distributed sensor system102, and/or operational data that can indicate system and/or componentstatus information. The data 122 also can include other data such asinformation obtained from hygrometers, pollen counters, strike counters,or the like. As such, the data 122 can include weather information,humidity information, pollen counts, and/or other information.

The data analysis engine 116 can analyze the data 122 for variouspurposes. In particular, the data analysis engine 116 can be configuredto analyze the data 122 to determine conditions at the distributedsensor system 102 and/or at or among a network of multiple distributedsensor systems 102. Thus, for example, some embodiments of the conceptsand technologies disclosed herein for a distributed sensor network 100can include an array of distributed sensor systems 102, which can belocated across a geographic area. The data analysis engine 116 cancollect and analyze the data 122 from the multiple distributed sensorsystems 102 to determine various conditions at the distributed sensorsystems 102 and/or across the distributed sensor network 100. Thus, someembodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein cansupport and/or enable local and/or hyperlocal data collection, analysis,and/or condition determination.

In some embodiments, the collection of weather data, for example, acrossthe distributed sensor network 100 can allow a data analyst and/or thedata analysis engine 116 to determine local and/or hyperlocal conditionsacross a geographic location. Similarly, the data 122 collected by thedistributed sensor systems 102 can include network traffic and/orspectrum usage and/or availability at a points distributed across ageographic area. As such, the data analysis engine 116 can be configuredto determine, at a high degree of granularity, network and/or usertraffic at or near the multiple distributed sensor systems 102, acrossthe distributed sensor network 100, and/or at other locations.

Similarly, the distributed sensor systems 102 can be configured to trackand/or determine location of devices or users based upon sound and/orsignal information, which can be triangulated by multiple distributedsensor systems 102. As such, some embodiments of the concepts andtechnologies disclosed herein can support E911 and/or other GPS trackingtechnologies to a degree of accuracy that may or may not be possibleusing triangulation at a cellular tower, WI-FI hotspot information,combinations thereof, or the like. The data analysis engine 116 can alsobe configured to output the results of the data analysis as the output124. The output 124 can be provided to a data customer, to a dataanalysis, to network operations, to other entities, combinationsthereof, or the like. As such, the data 122 obtained and analyzed by thedata analysis engine 116 can be used by a network operator forcontrolling and/or improving various operational characteristics of thenetwork 104 such as power usage, bandwidth allocation, or the like. Thedata 122 also can be monetized by collecting and analyzing the data 122,and providing the output 124 to one or more customers.

As mentioned above, FIG. 1 also shows a coverage area 126 associatedwith the distributed sensor system 102. The coverage area 126 can berelatively small compared to a typical coverage area associated with amacro cell and/or some other wireless communication devices. In someembodiments, for example, the coverage area 126 can have a regular orirregular radius of about ten feet up to about two thousand feet. Insome embodiments, the coverage area 126 has a radius of about fiftyfeet. It can be appreciated that a lighting system, if included in thedistributed sensor system 102, can be configured to illuminate some orall of the coverage area 126, if desired. While arrows illustratingcommunications are shown in FIG. 1 as terminating and/or beginning atthe coverage area 126, it should be understood that communications canterminate and/or begin at the distributed sensor system 102 and/or anantenna thereof (not visible in FIG. 1)

FIG. 1 illustrates one distributed sensor system 102, one network 104,and one server computer 118. It should be understood, however, thatvarious implementations of the distributed sensor network 100 includemultiple distributed sensor systems 102, multiple networks 104, and/ormultiple server computers 118. As such, the illustrated embodimentshould be understood as being illustrative, and should not be construedas being limiting in any way.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an illustrative architecture of one or more ofthe distributed sensor systems 102 and components thereof will bedescribed. It should be understood that the distributed sensor system102 may or may not include some or all of the components and/orassociated functionality described herein with reference to FIG. 2.Furthermore, it should be understood that the distributed sensor systems102 can interact with, collect data from, and/or receive data fromvarious sensors not located at or in the distributed sensor systems 102.For example, the distributed sensor systems 102 can be connected(“hubbed”) to remote sensors and/or sensor systems via various wirelessand/or wired networks. In some embodiments, the distributed sensorsystems 102 communicate with remote sensors and/or sensor systems usingmachine to machine (“M2M”) techniques such as, for example, the IEEE802.15.4 protocol (e.g., ZIGBEE), various messaging protocols,combinations thereof, or the like. As such, it should be understood thatthe distributed sensor system 102 and/or various components thereof cancommunicate via almost any messaging and/or communication protocols.

While connections are not shown between the various componentsillustrated in FIG. 2, it should be understood that some, none, or allof the components illustrated in FIG. 2 can be configured to interactand/or communicate with one other. In some embodiments, the componentsare arranged so as to communicate via one or more busses (not shown).Thus, it should be understood that FIG. 2 and the following descriptionare intended to provide a general understanding of a suitableenvironment in which various aspects of embodiments can be implemented,and should not be construed as being limiting in any way.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the distributed sensor systems 102 can have anonboard computer or processing system (“processor”) 200. It should beunderstood that the processor 200 can provide the functionality of thecontroller 106 described above with reference to FIG. 1, though this isnot necessarily the case. The distributed sensor system 102 also caninclude a memory or other data storage device (“memory”) 202. Theprocessor 200 can be configured to process data and/or can executecomputer-executable instructions stored in the memory 202.

The computer-executable instructions executed by the processor 200 caninclude, for example, an operating system (“OS”) 204 such as theoperating system 108 illustrated in FIG. 1 and/or one or moreapplications 206. In some embodiments, the applications 206 can includethe data collection application 110, though this is not necessarily thecase. The memory 202 also can store data 208. The data 208 can include,but is not limited to, sensor data, location information, time and/ordate information, identification information, other information,combinations thereof, or the like. While FIG. 2 illustrates storage ofthe OS 204, the applications 206, and the data 208 in the memory 202, itshould be understood that the OS 204, the applications 206, the data208, and/or portions thereof also can be stored in a firmware (notillustrated) and/or other volatile and/or non-volatile data storagedevices located at and/or remote from the distributed sensor system 102.A firmware, if included, can be executed by the processor 200 duringpower up and/or power down operations at the distributed sensor system102.

The distributed sensor system 102 also can include an input/output(“I/O”) interface 210. The I/O interface 210 can be configured tosupport the input/output of data such as location information, sensorstatus information (e.g., health, availability, or the like), userinformation, application initiation (start-up) requests, device controlinstructions, other data, or the like. In some embodiments, the I/Ointerface 210 can include a hardwire connection such as a universalserial bus (“USB”) port, a mini-USB port, a micro-USB port, an audiojack, a PS2 port, an IEEE 1394 (“FIREWIRE”) port, a serial port, aparallel port, an Ethernet (RJ45) port, an RJ11 port, a proprietaryport, combinations thereof, or the like. As such, the distributed sensorsystem 102 can allow users to connect to the distributed sensor system102 for various data retrieval, configuration, and/or other operations.

In some embodiments, the distributed sensor system 102 can be configuredto synchronize with one or more devices to transfer content to and/orfrom the distributed sensor system 102. In some embodiments, forexample, the distributed sensor system 102 can be configured to receivethe data requests 114 and/or send data responses 120 via the I/Ointerface 210, though this is not necessarily the case. In someembodiments, the I/O interface 210 accepts I/O devices such askeyboards, keypads, mice, interface tethers, display adapters, printers,plotters, external storage, touch/multi-touch screens, touch pads,trackballs, microphones, remote control devices, displays, projectors,modems, routers, external power sources, docking stations, combinationsthereof, and the like. It should be appreciated that the I/O interface210 may be used for communications between the distributed sensor system102 and a network device or local device such as, for example, the datasources 112 and/or the server computer 118 shown in FIG. 1.

The distributed sensor system 102 also can include one or morecommunications components 212. The communications components 212 can beconfigured to interface with the processor 200 to facilitate wiredand/or wireless communications with one or more networks such as thenetwork 104 described herein. In some embodiments, other networksinclude networks that utilize non-cellular wireless technologies such asWI-FI or WIMAX. For example, the distributed sensor system 102 isconfigured, in some embodiments, to connect to a backbone of the network104 and through the network 104 to the server computer 118 and/or otherdevices via fiber optic connection and/or other types of connectionssupported by the communications components 212. In some embodiments, thecommunications component 212 includes a multimode communicationssubsystem for facilitating communications via the cellular network, alandline network, and/or one or more other networks.

The communications component 212, in some embodiments, includes one ormore transceivers. The one or more transceivers, if included, can beconfigured to communicate over the same and/or different wireless orwired technology standards with respect to one another. For example, insome embodiments one or more of the transceivers of the communicationscomponent 212 may be configured to communicate wirelessly using GSM,CDMAONE, CDMA2000, LTE, and/or various other 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 4G, andgreater generation technology standards. Moreover, the communicationscomponent 212 may facilitate communications over various channel accessmethods (which may or may not be used by the aforementioned standards)including, but not limited to, TDMA, FDMA, W-CDMA, OFDM, SDMA, and thelike.

In addition, the communications component 212 may facilitate datacommunications using GPRS, EDGE, the HSPA protocol family includingHSDPA, EUL or otherwise termed HSUPA, HSPA+, and various other currentand future wireless data access standards. The communications component212 also can communicate using various communications technologies suchas, for example, WI-FI, WIMAX, BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, infrared, infrareddata association (“IRDA”), near field communications (“NFC”), other RFtechnologies, combinations thereof, and the like. In some embodiments,the communications component 212 also can facilitate reception fromterrestrial radio networks, digital satellite radio networks,internet-based radio service networks, combinations thereof, and thelike. The communications component 212 can process data from a networksuch as the Internet, an intranet, a broadband network, a WI-FI hotspot,an Internet service provider (“ISP”), a digital subscriber line (“DSL”)provider, a broadband provider, combinations thereof, or the like.

The distributed sensor system 102 also can include multiple sensors. Thesensors can include, but are not limited to, one or more spectrumsensors 214, one or more temperature sensors 216, one or more air orambient environment pressure sensors (“pressure sensors”) 218, one ormore wind speed and/or wind direction sensors (“wind sensors”) 220, oneor more air quality sensors 222, one or more sound sensors 224, one ormore light level and/or color sensors (“light sensors”) 226, one or moreradiation sensors 228, or the like.

The spectrum sensors 214 can be configured to monitor usage,utilization, interference, and/or availability of frequency spectrum ator near the distributed sensor system 102. As such, informationgenerated by and/or captured by the spectrum sensors 214 can be used tomake adjustments to frequency usage, footprint, power output, and/orother aspects of frequency usage of the distributed sensor system 102.It therefore can be appreciated that by collecting and analyzingspectrum data from a number of distributed sensor systems 102, the dataanalysis engine 116 can determine spectrum usage, utilization,interference, overlap, and/or availability across the network 104 and/ora portion thereof.

The temperature sensors 216 can be configured to capture temperatureinformation at or near the distributed sensor system 102. As such,information generated by and/or captured by the temperature sensors 216can be used to determine an air, water, ground, cabinet, or othertemperatures. It therefore can be appreciated that by collecting andanalyzing temperature data from a number of distributed sensor systems102, the data analysis engine 116 can determine local and/or hyperlocaltemperature information, temperature trends, and/or the like.

The pressure sensors 218 can be configured to determine an air or waterpressure at or near the distributed sensor system 102. As such,information generated by and/or captured by the pressure sensors 218 canbe used to determine an air or water pressure at or near the distributedsensor system 102. It therefore can be appreciated that by collectingand analyzing pressure data from a number of distributed sensor systems102, the data analysis engine 116 can determine pressure informationacross the network 104 and/or a portion thereof.

The wind sensors 220 can be configured to monitor wind speed, winddirection, gust information, and/or the like at or near the distributedsensor system 102. As such, information generated by and/or captured bythe wind sensors 220 can be used to determine wind speed, direction,variation, and/or the like at or near the distributed sensor system 102.It therefore can be appreciated that by collecting and analyzing winddata from a number of distributed sensor systems 102, the data analysisengine 116 can determine wind direction, speed, variation, and the likeacross the network 104 and/or a portion thereof.

The air quality sensors 222 can be configured to monitor air quality ator near the distributed sensor system 102. The air quality sensors 222can be configured to determine a concentration, in the ambientenvironment, of particular chemicals such as CO₂, CO, or the like. Theair quality sensors 222 also can be configured to determine a number ofparticles per volume, in the air, of particulates such as pollen, dust,insects, or the like. As such, information generated by and/or capturedby the air quality sensors 222 can be collected from a number ofdistributed sensor systems 102 and analyzed at the data analysis engine116 to determine air quality in an ambient environment across thenetwork 104 and/or a portion thereof.

The sound sensors 224 can be configured to monitor noise levels at ornear the distributed sensor system 102. The sound sensors 224 can beconfigured to measure sound levels and/or frequencies. In someembodiments, multiple distributed sensor systems 102 can measure a soundand its associated noise level to triangulate or otherwise approximatethe approximate location of the sound. As such, some embodiments of theconcepts and technologies disclosed herein can use one or moredistributed sensor systems 102 to identify and locate sounds, to measureambient sound levels across the network 104 and/or a portion thereof,and/or to otherwise obtain and analyze sound data.

The light sensors 226 can be configured to monitor light levels,intensity levels, colors, and/or other aspects of light at or near thedistributed sensor system 102. As such, information generated by and/orcaptured by the light sensors 226 can be collected from a number ofdistributed sensor systems 102 and analyzed at the data analysis engine116 to determine light levels and/or other aspects of light in anambient environment across the network 104 and/or a portion thereof. Insome embodiments, the light data can be used to control outdoor lightingin a local and/or hyperlocal manner based upon measured light levelsand/or motion detection at or near the distributed sensor systems 102.It should be understood that this embodiment is illustrative, and shouldnot be construed as being limiting in any way.

The radiation sensors 228 can be configured to monitor radiation levelsat or near the distributed sensor system 102. The radiation sensors 228can include Geiger counters and/or other radiation detection and/ormeasurement devices configured to identify and measure radiation. Theradiation sensors 228 can measure any type of radiation including, butnot limited to, infrared and/or ultraviolet (“UV”) radiation. As such,information generated by and/or captured by the radiation sensors 228can be collected from a number of distributed sensor systems 102 andanalyzed at the data analysis engine 116 to determine radiation levelsin an ambient environment across the network 104 and/or a portionthereof.

The distributed sensor system 102 also can include an image capture andprocessing system (“image system”) 230. The image system 230 can beconfigured to capture or otherwise obtain photos, videos, and/or othervisual information. As such, the image system 230 can include cameras,lenses, charge-coupled devices (“CCDs”), combinations thereof, or thelike. The distributed sensor system 102 may also include a video system.The video system can be configured to capture, process, record, modify,and/or store video content. In some embodiments, the distributed sensorsystem 102 can receive a command to capture images and/or video via adata request 114. As such, the distributed sensor system 102 can supportremote image, audio, and/or video capture tasks, though this is notnecessarily the case.

The distributed sensor system 102 also can include one or more locationcomponents 232. The location components 232 can be configured to sendand/or receive signals to determine a geographic location of thedistributed sensor system 102. According to various embodiments, thelocation components 232 can send and/or receive signals from GPS devicesand/or systems, assisted-GPS (“A-GPS”) devices and/or systems,WI-FI/WIMAX and/or cellular network triangulation data, combinationsthereof, and the like. The location component 232 also can be configuredto communicate with the communications component 212 to retrievetriangulation data for determining a location of the distributed sensorsystem 102.

In some embodiments, the location component 232 can interface withcellular network nodes, telephone lines, satellites, locationtransmitters and/or beacons, wireless network transmitters andreceivers, combinations thereof, and the like. Using the locationcomponent 232, the distributed sensor system 102 can generate and/orreceive data to identify its geographic location, or to transmit thelocation data to other devices as the data 122 described above for usein determining the geographic location of the distributed sensor system102 and/or one or more devices in communication with the distributedsensor system 102. The location component 232 may include multiplecomponents for determining the location and/or orientation of thedistributed sensor system 102 and/or a device in communicationtherewith.

The distributed sensor system 102 also can include lighting systems 234.The lighting systems 234 can include, but are not limited to, lightfixtures, photo cells, motion detectors, and/or other lightingequipment. In one contemplated embodiment, the lighting equipmentincludes LED lighting. As such, some embodiments of the concepts andtechnologies disclosed herein can include a distributed sensorenvironment that can include an integrated eco-friendly lighting system,cellular and/or other types of wireless communications transceivers,and/or data sensors for measuring lighting levels, motion detection,and/or other aspects of the lighting for analysis and/or control byvarious systems and/or entities. While the example of LED lighting isprovided above, it should be understood that some other embodiments ofthe lighting systems 234 can include other lighting technologies such asincandescent lighting, fluorescent lighting, sodium lighting, mercurylighting, halogen lighting, other lighting technologies, combinationsthereof, or the like.

The illustrated distributed sensor system 102 also can include otherhardware 236. The other hardware 236 can include, for example, solarcells, a pole and/or other mounting hardware, power sources such as, forexample, one or more batteries, power supplies, power cells, and/orother power subsystems including alternating current (“AC”) and/ordirect current (“DC”) power devices, antennas, heat shields, bug and/orpest shields, or the like. The other hardware 236 also can include aradome that can cover one or more of the various components of thedistributed sensor system 102. The radome can also shields thecomponents from the elements, but can allow radio frequency to penetratethe radome, thereby protecting the distributed sensor systems 102 fromthe elements while not affecting performance of the distributed sensorsystem 102. The other hardware 236 also can include external powersystems or charging equipment; environmental control devices such as airconditioners, heat pumps, heat generators, resistance heaters, and/orother heating and/or cooling systems; fans, heat exchangers, ductwork,and/or other heat control structures or devices; combinations thereof;or the like. Because the distributed sensor system 102 can includeadditional and/or alternative components, the above embodiment should beunderstood as being illustrative of one possible operating environmentfor various embodiments of the concepts and technologies describedherein. As such, the described embodiment of the distributed sensorsystem 102 is illustrative, and should not be construed as beinglimiting in any way.

Turning now to FIG. 3, aspects of a method 300 for collecting data at adistributed sensor system 102 will be described in detail, according toan illustrative embodiment. It should be understood that the operationsof the methods disclosed herein are not necessarily presented in anyparticular order and that performance of some or all of the operationsin an alternative order(s) is possible and is contemplated. Theoperations have been presented in the demonstrated order for ease ofdescription and illustration. Operations may be added, omitted, and/orperformed simultaneously, without departing from the scope of theconcepts and technologies disclosed herein.

It also should be understood that the methods disclosed herein can beended at any time and need not be performed in its entirety. Some or alloperations of the methods, and/or substantially equivalent operations,can be performed by execution of computer-readable instructions includedon a computer storage media, as defined herein. The term“computer-readable instructions,” and variants thereof, as used herein,is used expansively to include routines, applications, applicationmodules, program modules, programs, components, data structures,algorithms, and the like. Computer-readable instructions can beimplemented on various system configurations including single-processoror multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based,programmable consumer electronics, combinations thereof, and the like.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the logical operations describedherein are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented acts orprogram modules running on a computing system and/or (2) asinterconnected machine logic circuits or circuit modules within thecomputing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent onthe performance and other requirements of the computing system.Accordingly, the logical operations described herein are referred tovariously as states, operations, structural devices, acts, or modules.These states, operations, structural devices, acts, and modules may beimplemented in software, in firmware, in special purpose digital logic,and any combination thereof. As used herein, the phrase “cause aprocessor to perform operations” and variants thereof is used to referto causing a processor of a computing system or device, such as, thedistributed sensor system 102 and/or the server computer 118 to performone or more operations and/or causing the processor to direct othercomponents of the computing system or device to perform one or more ofthe operations.

For purposes of illustrating and describing the concepts of the presentdisclosure, the methods disclosed herein are described as beingperformed by the distributed sensor system 102 via execution of one ormore software modules such as, for example, the data collectionapplication 110. It should be understood that additional and/oralternative devices and/or network nodes can provide the functionalitydescribed herein via execution of one or more modules, applications,and/or other software including, but not limited to, the data collectionapplication 110. Thus, the illustrated embodiments are illustrative, andshould not be viewed as being limiting in any way.

The method 300 begins at operation 302, wherein the distributed sensorsystem 102 receives a data request 114. The distributed sensor system102 can receive the data request 114 from a requestor such as, forexample, the data analysis engine 116. The data request 114 can specifya particular instance of data requested by the requestor, a type orcategory of data requested by the requestor, and/or various instancesand/or types of data requested by the requestor. For example, the datarequest 114 can request, for example, environmental data conditions,which may include air temperature, air pressure, ambient lighting, soundlevels, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and/or other environmentalconditions. The data request 114 alternatively may request temperaturedata. As such, it should be understood that the data request 114 canspecify almost any instances and/or types of data from the distributedsensor systems 102.

From operation 302, the method 300 proceeds to operation 304, whereinthe distributed sensor system 102 determines if one or more data sources112 are available. In particular, the distributed sensor system 102 candetermine if one or more data sources 112 that are to be used to obtainthe data requested by the data request 114 are available. In the exampleabove, wherein the data request 114 can correspond to a request fortemperature data, the distributed sensor system 102 can determine if athermometer or other temperature measurement device is available. Thus,it can be appreciated that the distributed sensor system 102 can beconfigured to recognize the data sources 112 that will satisfy the datarequest 114, as well as determine if the data sources 112 are available.Furthermore, it should be understood that the distributed sensor system102 can obtain the data from the data sources 112 via a buffer, cache,or other data storage device configured to obtain and store the data. Assuch, the distributed sensor system 102 can be configured to determine,in operation 304, if the data is stored in a data storage device inaddition to, or instead of, determining if the data sources 112 areavailable. It should be understood that this embodiment is illustrative,and should not be construed as being limiting in any way.

If the distributed sensor system 102 determines, in operation 304, thatthe one or more data sources 112 to be used to satisfy the data request114 received in operation 302 are not available, the method 300 canreturn to operation 304. The distributed sensor system 102 may determinethat the data sources 112 are unavailable, for example, if the datasources 112 are capturing data associated with another data request 114,if one or more of the data sources 112 is offline, or the like. As such,it can be appreciated that in some embodiments, execution of the method300 can repeat and/or pause until the distributed sensor system 102determines, in any iteration of operation 304, that the one or more datasources 112 to be used to obtain the data requested in the data request114 are available. If the distributed sensor system 102 determines, inany iteration of operation 304, that the one or more data sources 112are available, the method 300 proceeds to operation 306.

In operation 306, the distributed sensor system 102 obtains the datafrom the data sources 112. In particular, the distributed sensor system102 can execute the data collection application 110 to obtain the datafrom the data sources 112. Thus, for example, the data collectionapplication 110 can activate one or more of the data sources 112 and/orcan generate instructions for activating the one or more data sources112, and obtain or receive the data generated by the data sources 112.According to various embodiments, the data obtained from the datasources 112 can include many different instances and/or types of datasuch as, for example, the data illustrated and described above withreference to FIGS. 1-2, as well as other instances and/or types of data.It should be understood that these embodiments are illustrative, andshould not be construed as being limiting in any way.

From operation 306, the method 300 proceeds to operation 308, whereinthe distributed sensor system 102 can perform onboard processing of thedata obtained in operation 306, if desired. In some embodiments, thedistributed sensor system 102 may or may not perform onboard processingsuch as, for example, compression of data and/or data files, conversionto or from various file formats, other file size and/or file formatmanagement operations, combinations thereof, or the like. Thedistributed sensor systems 102 also can package some data and/or formatthe data into particular data structures such as, for example, matrices,data tables, or the like, for representing multiple instances of thedata and/or for other reasons. Because the data may not be processed bythe distributed sensor system 102 and instead can be used or provided toother systems as raw data, it should be understood that theseembodiments are illustrative, and should not be construed as beinglimiting in any way.

From operation 308, the method 300 proceeds to operation 310, whereinthe distributed sensor system 102 transmits the data to the dataanalysis engine 116. The data can be provided to the data analysisengine 116 in a data response 120, if desired, and/or can be madeavailable to the data analysis engine 116. In some embodiments, the dataresponse 120 can include the data 122 as explained above with referenceto FIG. 1. As such, the data transmitted or provided to the dataanalysis engine 116 in operation 310 can include various types of dataand/or any number of instances of data.

From operation 310, the method 300 proceeds to operation 312. The method300 ends at operation 312.

Turning now to FIG. 4, aspects of a method 400 for obtaining andanalyzing data in a distributed sensor network will be described indetail, according to an illustrative embodiment. For purposes ofillustrating and describing the concepts of the present disclosure, themethods disclosed herein are described as being performed by the servercomputer 118 via execution of one or more software modules such as, forexample, the data analysis engine 116. It should be understood thatadditional and/or alternative devices and/or network nodes can providethe functionality described herein via execution of one or more modules,applications, and/or other software including, but not limited to, thedata analysis engine 116. Thus, the illustrated embodiments areillustrative, and should not be viewed as being limiting in any way.

The method 400 begins at operation 402, wherein the server computer 118begins a data analysis operation. The data analysis operation begun inoperation 402 can correspond to a timed data collection/analysis job, arequested data analysis operation, and/or an analysis begun on data inresponse to receiving the data from one or more distributed sensorsystems 102. In some embodiments, for example, the server computer 118can execute a timer job to initiate data analysis and/or datacollection, as will be explained in more detail below. As such, althoughnot explicitly illustrated in FIG. 4, operation 402 can includedetermining that a timer has expired and initiating a data collectionand/or analysis operation in response to such a determination.

The data analysis operation begun in operation 402 also can be initiatedby the server computer 118 in response to receiving a data analysisrequest from a requestor such as, for example, a data customer, anetwork operator, a network control mechanism, and/or otherapplications, modules, entities, systems, or the like. Thus, operation402 can include receiving a request and initiating the data analysisoperation in response to receiving the request. Because analysis of thedata as described herein can be initiated in response to additionaland/or alternative considerations, it should be understood that theseembodiments are illustrative, and should not be construed as beinglimiting in any way.

From operation 402, the method 400 proceeds to operation 404, whereinthe server computer 118 determines if data to be analyzed by the servercomputer 118 is available. The server computer 118 can determine if datato be analyzed in the data analysis operation begun in operation 402 isavailable. Thus, for example, if a data analysis request is received fordetermining weather conditions at or near one or more of the distributedsensor systems 102 and/or across the network 104, the server computer118 can determine if weather data is available. As explained above withregard to FIGS. 1-2, weather data may include, but is not limited to,temperature data, wind data, pressure data, humidity data, light data,strike counter data, other data, combinations thereof, or the like. Assuch, operation 404 can include the server computer 118 determining whatdata is needed or desired for the data analysis operation begun inoperation 402 as well as determining if the data is available.

In some embodiments, the server computer 118 can store data such as thedata 122 received from the distributed sensor systems 102 in a datastorage device such as a memory, hard drive, network storage device,and/or other local and/or remote virtual and/or real data storagedevices. As such, operation 404 can include accessing a local or remotedata storage device to determine if the data is available. Because otherapproaches for determining if the data to be used is available arecontemplated, it should be understood that these embodiments areillustrative, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way.

If the server computer 118 determines, in operation 404, that the datato be analyzed by the server computer 118 is not available, the method400 proceeds to operation 406. In operation 406, the server computer 118can obtain the data to be analyzed by the server computer 118. Accordingto various embodiments, the server computer 118 can determine what datais needed and/or desired for the data analysis, format a request such asthe data request 114 described with reference to FIG. 1, send the datarequest 114 to one or more distributed sensor systems 102, and receivedata from the distributed sensor systems 102 such as, for example, thedata 122 included in the data response 120 described above.

In some other embodiment, the server computer 118 can be configured toaccess the sensors and/or systems of the distributed sensor systems 102without generating and/or transmitting the data requests 114 describedherein. As such, operation 406 can include the server computer 118accessing one or more data sources 112 of the distributed sensor systems102 to obtain the data 122 and/or other information. Because the datacan be obtained by generating instructions or requests for otherdevices, it should be understood that these embodiments areillustrative, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way.

From operation 406, the method 400 returns to operation 404. As such,operations 404-406 can be repeated until the server computer 118determines, in any iteration of operation 404, that data to be analyzedis available. If the server computer 118 determines, in any iteration ofoperation 404, that the data to be analyzed is available, the method 400proceeds to operation 408.

At operation 408, the server computer 118 analyzes the data. The dataanalysis can include various operations. In some embodiments, the servercomputer 118 can collect data from across multiple distributed sensorsystems 102 and perform various operations for analyzing the data todetermine conditions across the network 104, conditions at one or moreof the distributed sensor systems 102, and/or conditions at or acrossthe distributed sensor network 100, or the like.

The analysis of operation 408 can vary based upon the type of dataanalysis operation begun in operation 402. Thus, for example, if a datacustomer, network operation, or other entity requests a report oranalysis of network traffic, the server computer 118 can obtainutilization and/or resource availability information from one or more ofthe distributed sensor systems 102. The data can be analyzed todetermine usage at or near various distributed sensor systems 102, usageacross the network 104, and/or usage across the entire and/or portionsof the distributed sensor network 100.

As explained in detail above, the data collected from the distributedsensor network 100 can include various types of information collectedfrom various data sources 112 that can include sensors, systems, and/orcomponents of the distributed sensor systems 102. As such, the dataanalysis in operation 408 can include analysis of various types and/orcategories of data, various data operations that may be specific to theparticular type and/or categories of data being analyzed, and/or otheroperations such as mathematical and/or statistical manipulation ofvalues, averages, means, or the like. Thus, the above examples of dataanalysis should be understood as being illustrative and should not beconstrued as being limiting in any way.

From operation 410, the method 400 proceeds to operation 412, whereinthe server computer 118 outputs results. In particular, the servercomputer 118 can output the results of the data analysis of operation408 as the output 124. As explained in detail herein, the output 124 canbe exposed by the server computer 118 to data customers, networkoperators, network control devices and/or systems, data storage devices,users, and/or other entities. The server computer 118 also can beconfigured to transmit the output 124 to various devices, to store theoutput 124 in a data storage device, to persist the output 124 in acache or other volatile storage device, or the like.

In some embodiments, the server computer 118 also can be configured tonotify a billing or charging module or system of the output 124. Assuch, the server computer 118 can be configured to generate or requestcharges for a recipient of the output 124. In some embodiments, forexample, the output 124 can be sold for a charge to weather reporters,news organizations, utility companies, network operators,municipalities, traffic control organizations and/or systems, otherentities, or the like. Thus, the server computer 118 can be configuredto report generation of the output 124 for purposes of enablingmonetization of the data analysis described herein. Because consumers ofthe output 124 can be charged and/or billed in other ways and/or forother reasons, it should be understood that this embodiment isillustrative, and should not be construed as being limiting in any way.

From operation 412, the method 400 proceeds to operation 414. The method400 ends at operation 414.

Turning now to FIG. 5, additional details of the network 104 areillustrated, according to an illustrative embodiment. The network 104includes a cellular network 502, a packet data network 504, for example,the Internet, and a circuit switched network 506, for example, apublicly switched telephone network (“PSTN”). The cellular network 502includes various components such as, but not limited to, basetransceiver stations (“BTSs”), Node-B's or e-Node-B's, base stationcontrollers (“BSCs”), radio network controllers (“RNCs”), mobileswitching centers (“MSCs”), mobile management entities (“MMEs”), shortmessage service centers (“SMSCs”), multimedia messaging service centers(“MMSCs”), home location registers (“HLRs”), home subscriber servers(“HSSs”), visitor location registers (“VLRs”), charging platforms,billing platforms, voicemail platforms, GPRS core network components,location service nodes, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (“IMS”), and thelike. The cellular network 502 also includes radios and nodes forreceiving and transmitting voice, data, and combinations thereof to andfrom radio transceivers, networks, the packet data network 504, and thecircuit switched network 506.

A mobile communications device 508, such as, for example, a cellulartelephone, a user equipment, a mobile terminal, a PDA, a laptopcomputer, a handheld computer, and combinations thereof, can beoperatively connected to the cellular network 502. The cellular network502 can be configured as a 2G GSM network and can provide datacommunications via GPRS and/or EDGE. Additionally, or alternatively, thecellular network 502 can be configured as a 3G UMTS network and canprovide data communications via the HSPA protocol family, for example,HSDPA, EUL (also referred to as HSUPA), and HSPA+. The cellular network502 also is compatible with 4G mobile communications standards as wellas evolved and future mobile standards.

The packet data network 504 includes various devices, for example,servers, computers, databases, and other devices in communication withanother, as is generally known. The packet data network 504 devices areaccessible via one or more network links. The servers often storevarious files that are provided to a requesting device such as, forexample, a computer, a terminal, a smartphone, or the like. Typically,the requesting device includes software (a “browser”) for executing aweb page in a format readable by the browser or other software. Otherfiles and/or data may be accessible via “links” in the retrieved files,as is generally known. In some embodiments, the packet data network 504includes or is in communication with the Internet. The circuit switchednetwork 506 includes various hardware and software for providing circuitswitched communications. The circuit switched network 506 may include,or may be, what is often referred to as a plain old telephone system(POTS). The functionality of a circuit switched network 506 or othercircuit-switched network are generally known and will not be describedherein in detail.

The illustrated cellular network 502 is shown in communication with thepacket data network 504 and a circuit switched network 506, though itshould be appreciated that this is not necessarily the case. One or moreInternet-capable devices 510, for example, a PC, a laptop, a portabledevice, or another suitable device, can communicate with one or morecellular networks 502, and devices connected thereto, through the packetdata network 504. It also should be appreciated that theInternet-capable device 510 can communicate with the packet data network504 through the circuit switched network 506, the cellular network 502,and/or via other networks (not illustrated).

As illustrated, a communications device 512, for example, a telephone,facsimile machine, modem, computer, or the like, can be in communicationwith the circuit switched network 506, and therethrough to the packetdata network 504 and/or the cellular network 502. It should beappreciated that the communications device 512 can be anInternet-capable device, and can be substantially similar to theInternet-capable device 510. In the specification, the network 104 isused to refer broadly to any combination of the networks 502, 504, 506.It should be appreciated that substantially all of the functionalitydescribed with reference to the network 104 can be performed by thecellular network 502, the packet data network 504, and/or the circuitswitched network 506, alone or in combination with other networks,network elements, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system 600 configuredto provide the functionality described herein for a verificationservice, in accordance with various embodiments of the concepts andtechnologies disclosed herein. The computer system 600 includes aprocessing unit 602, a memory 604, one or more user interface devices606, one or more input/output (“I/O”) devices 608, and one or morenetwork devices 610, each of which is operatively connected to a systembus 612. The bus 612 enables bi-directional communication between theprocessing unit 602, the memory 604, the user interface devices 606, theI/O devices 608, and the network devices 610.

The processing unit 602 may be a standard central processor thatperforms arithmetic and logical operations, a more specific purposeprogrammable logic controller (“PLC”), a programmable gate array, orother type of processor known to those skilled in the art and suitablefor controlling the operation of the server computer. Processing unitsare generally known, and therefore are not described in further detailherein.

The memory 604 communicates with the processing unit 602 via the systembus 612. In some embodiments, the memory 604 is operatively connected toa memory controller (not shown) that enables communication with theprocessing unit 602 via the system bus 612. The memory 604 includes anoperating system 614 and one or more program modules 616. The operatingsystem 614 can include, but is not limited to, members of the WINDOWS,WINDOWS CE, and/or WINDOWS MOBILE families of operating systems fromMICROSOFT CORPORATION, the LINUX family of operating systems, theSYMBIAN family of operating systems from SYMBIAN LIMITED, the BREWfamily of operating systems from QUALCOMM CORPORATION, the MAC OS, iOS,and/or LEOPARD families of operating systems from APPLE CORPORATION, theFREEBSD family of operating systems, the SOLARIS family of operatingsystems from ORACLE CORPORATION, other operating systems, and the like.

The program modules 616 may include various software and/or programmodules described herein. In some embodiments, for example, the programmodules 616 include the data analysis engine 116. This and/or otherprograms can be embodied in computer-readable media containinginstructions that, when executed by the processing unit 602, perform oneor more methods including, but not limited to, the method 400 describedin detail above with respect to FIG. 4. According to embodiments, theprogram modules 616 may be embodied in hardware, software, firmware, orany combination thereof. Although not shown in FIG. 6, it should beunderstood that the memory 604 also can be configured to store the data122, the output 124, and/or other data, if desired.

By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media mayinclude any available computer storage media or communication media thatcan be accessed by the computer system 600. Communication media includescomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or othertransport mechanism and includes any delivery media. The term “modulateddata signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristicschanged or set in a manner as to encode information in the signal. Byway of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wiredmedia such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wirelessmedia such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within thescope of computer-readable media.

Computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but isnot limited to, RAM, ROM, Erasable Programmable ROM (“EPROM”),Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (“EEPROM”), flash memory or othersolid state memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (“DVD”),or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other mediumwhich can be used to store the desired information and which can beaccessed by the computer system 600. In the claims, the phrase “computerstorage medium” and variations thereof, does not include waves, signals,and/or other transitory and/or intangible communication media, per se.

The user interface devices 606 may include one or more devices withwhich a user accesses the computer system 600. The user interfacedevices 606 may include, but are not limited to, computers, servers,personal digital assistants, cellular phones, or any suitable computingdevices. The I/O devices 608 enable a user to interface with the programmodules 616. In one embodiment, the I/O devices 608 are operativelyconnected to an I/O controller (not shown) that enables communicationwith the processing unit 602 via the system bus 612. The I/O devices 608may include one or more input devices, such as, but not limited to, akeyboard, a mouse, or an electronic stylus. Further, the I/O devices 608may include one or more output devices, such as, but not limited to, adisplay screen or a printer.

The network devices 610 enable the computer system 600 to communicatewith other networks or remote systems via a network, such as the network104. Examples of the network devices 610 include, but are not limitedto, a modem, a radio frequency (“RF”) or infrared (“IR”) transceiver, atelephonic interface, a bridge, a router, or a network card. The network104 may include a wireless network such as, but not limited to, aWireless Local Area Network (“WLAN”) such as a WI-FI network, a WirelessWide Area Network (“WWAN”), a Wireless Personal Area Network (“WPAN”)such as a BLUETOOTH peer-to-peer connection, a ZIGBEE connection, aWireless Metropolitan Area Network (“WMAN”) such a WiMAX network, acellular network, combinations thereof, or the like. Alternatively, thenetwork 104 may be a wired network such as, but not limited to, a WideArea Network (“WAN”) such as the Internet, a Local Area Network (“LAN”)such as the Ethernet, a wired Personal Area Network (“PAN”), or a wiredMetropolitan Area Network (“MAN”).

Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that systems andmethods for collecting and analyzing data in a distributed sensornetwork have been disclosed herein. Although the subject matterpresented herein has been described in language specific to computerstructural features, methodological and transformative acts, specificcomputing machinery, and computer-readable media, it is to be understoodthat the concepts and technologies disclosed herein are not necessarilylimited to the specific features, acts, or media described herein.Rather, the specific features, acts and mediums are disclosed as exampleforms of implementing the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. Asused in the claims, a distributed sensor system includes at least amemory, a processor, a radome, and at least one of the sensors describedherein.

The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustrationonly and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications andchanges may be made to the subject matter described herein withoutfollowing the example embodiments and applications illustrated anddescribed, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of theembodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein.

We claim:
 1. A system comprising: a processor; and a memory that storescomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to perform operations comprising obtaining data froma distributed sensor system comprising a plurality of data sources and acommunications component that supports cellular communications in acoverage area associated with the distributed sensor system, wherein thedata comprises spectrum data that specifies spectrum usage at thecoverage area and utilization data that specifies available and usedresources of the communications component, analyzing the data in a dataanalysis operation, and outputting results of the data analysisoperation.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executableinstructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor toperform operations further comprising: obtaining the data from thedistributed sensor system by generating a data request specifying thedata; transmitting the data request to the distributed sensor system;and receiving the data from the distributed sensor system.
 3. The systemof claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor system further comprises alighting system that illuminates a portion of the coverage area, whereinthe plurality of data sources generate the data, and wherein theplurality of data sources comprises a sensor.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the distributed sensor system further comprises: a temperaturesensor; a wind sensor; a pressure sensor; and an air quality sensor. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor system furthercomprises: an image system that captures images at the distributedsensor system; and a sound system that captures audio at the distributedsensor system.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensorsystem further comprises: an environmental control device that heats andcools a portion of the distributed sensor system.
 7. The system of claim3, wherein the lighting system is located within a radome that coversthe plurality of data sources.
 8. A method comprising: obtaining, at aserver computer executing a data analysis engine, data from adistributed sensor system comprising a plurality of data sources and acommunications component that supports cellular communications in acoverage area associated with the distributed sensor system, wherein thedata comprises spectrum data that specifies spectrum usage at thecoverage area and utilization data that specifies available and usedresources of the communications component; analyzing, at the servercomputer, the data in a data analysis operation; and outputting, at theserver computer, results of the data analysis operation.
 9. The methodof claim 8, further comprising receiving a request to analyze the data.10. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining the data comprises:identifying data to be analyzed during the data analysis operation;generating a data request specifying the data; transmitting the datarequest to the distributed sensor system; and receiving the data fromthe distributed sensor system.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thedata comprises data collected from a sensor at the distributed sensorsystem.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the data request specifiesan instance of data to be collected at the distributed sensor system.13. The method of claim 10, wherein the data request specifies acategory of data to be collected at the distributed sensor system, thecategory of data comprising a plurality of instances of data.
 14. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the data comprises temperature data,pressure data, wind data, and radiation data.
 15. A computer storagemedium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, whenexecuted by a processor, cause the processor to perform operationscomprising obtaining data from a distributed sensor system comprising aplurality of data sources and a communications component that supportscellular communications in a coverage area associated with thedistributed sensor system, wherein the data comprises spectrum data thatspecifies spectrum usage at the coverage area and utilization data thatspecifies available and used resources of the communications component;analyzing the data during a data analysis operation; and outputtingresults of the data analysis operation.
 16. The computer storage mediumof claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the processor to perform operations furthercomprising: identifying data to be analyzed during the data analysisoperation; generating a data request specifying the data; transmittingthe data request to the distributed sensor system; and receiving thedata from the distributed sensor system in a data response.
 17. Thecomputer storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executableinstructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor toperform operations further comprising generating an instruction tocharge a recipient of the results of the data analysis operation. 18.The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions,when executed by the processor, cause the processor to performoperations further comprising: determining if the data is available; andobtaining the data in response to a determination that the data is notavailable.
 19. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining ifthe data is available; and obtaining the data in response to adetermination that the data is not available.
 20. The computer storagemedium of claim 15, wherein the computer executable instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to perform operationsfurther comprising: determining if the data is available; and obtainingthe data in response to a determination that the data is not available.